C2C: McDonald’s and Climate

McDonald’s has over 32,478 restaurants, more than any other company in the world. That’s some climate footprint. What is the company doing to make it smaller?

Wednesday March 16th, The National Climate Seminar will welcome McDonald’s VP of Corporate Social Services, Bob Langert. Langert oversees efforts at the company focused on global environmental management systems, including climate change.

How is McDonald’s responding to climate change? Climatecounts.org provides this background information:

Overall Score: 36/100. Change from previous year’s score: +6

Review: 11/22 points. McDonald’s has measured the impacts that sub-units of the company have on global warming.

Reduce: 21/56 points. McDonald’s has been working to limit energy consumption in its stores in order to reduce its impact on global warming (i.e., its greenhouse gas emissions or climate footprint).

Policy Stance: 0/10 points. McDonald’s provides no public information that it supports public policy that addresses climate change.

Report: 4/12 points. McDonald’s has made public information available on its companywide efforts to address global warming.

Mark your calendar for next week’s questions and answers on global warming, from the burger perspective. Send advance questions for Langert to climate@bard.edu.

Meanwhile, the EPA’s authority to cut global warming pollution (as well as protect public health) remains under unprecedented attack by the House of Representatives. There has never been a more important time for students to be tuned into DC. At Bard CEP, we can help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congressperson.

Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.

In MA, FL, ME and several other states we are already arranging web dialogs between several campuses and their US Senators. Please send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 pathbreaking conversations launched between campus and congress this spring.

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About Us

C2C is a national public policy initiative of the Bard Center for Environmental Policy. C2C directly engages students at colleges and high schools across the country with leaders in Congress, Corporations and City Hall officials. Video dialogues and conference calls on climate and clean energy provide students with unique educational opportunities, and also serve to voice the concerns of students across the nation.